Dressing after mammoplasty

What is mammoplasty?

Breast reduction, also known as mammoplasty, is a way to get rid of excess fat from the breast, glandular tissue and skin in order to achieve a breast that fits the body and eliminate problems with breasts that are too large than normal breasts. (Macromastia).

Disproportionately large breasts can cause physical and emotional distress. People with macromastia may experience physical problems due to overweight breasts. The resulting pain can also make it challenging to do some regular physical activity. In addition to physical illnesses related to macromastia, some patients may experience emotional distress or significant psychological problems due to the size of their breasts.

Although breast reduction is often done to treat medical problems, patients who have no symptoms of macromastia but are unhappy with their breast size can have mammoplasty as a cosmetic procedure. Patients undergoing breast reduction surgery for cosmetic reasons may point to a number of reasons, including social problems and clothing size concerns.

Dressing after mammoplasty

After any type of cosmetic breast surgery, the dressing is very important. Each surgeon makes his or her own breast correction, but the common type of dressing is widely used in most plastic surgeries in all countries. Research has shown that when a proper dressing that provides immobility, minimal dead space, compression, and trauma protection is used consistently, severe complications after breast surgery are reduced.

Common postoperative breast cosmetic dressings include the use of gauze around the breast and the postoperative suture line. The dressing is sterilized with a small piece of bandage on the wound that is held in place by a bandage that is wrapped around the breast and back. Although the dressing is well in place at first, it tends to shrink from the surface of the breast after a while, so it seems to lose its compression and support effect after a while.

In addition, reusing a loose bandage can be difficult, especially in an anxious patient. The surgeon usually intends to keep the dressing intact. However, dressing is difficult to use and maintain because the breast has complex contours and protrusions.

The popular traditional dressing, which consists of a gauze, a pad, and a bandage, may become dislodged when the dressing is loosely bandaged or may cause excessive pressure necrosis when tightly closed. In addition, such a dressing may cause excessive moisture and discomfort because the entire breast and the surrounding area are bandaged. Removing these dressings is also difficult and sometimes bulky, heavy and uncomfortable. Pregnancy bra or corset is easily applied to complex contours and can control the situation. In addition, it is cheap.

Early return of patients home or to work is significant in people who have used this type of corset after surgery. This is probably due to the lack of embarrassment caused by the bandage around the breast, as well as the irritation that usually accompanies dressing.

 

Is scarring preventable after mammoplasty surgery?

In breast reduction surgery, incisions are made in the skin. Scarring is inevitable in any surgery, including breast reduction or mammoplasty.

But that doesn’t mean there will necessarily be a lot of scars after surgery. There are ways to reduce the apparent size of wounds during and after surgery.

The first step is to find an experienced plastic surgeon who specializes in mammoplasty. Then you can try different techniques after the operation to reduce the wounds caused by mammoplasty. Read more for more information.

 

Different surgical techniques create different scars

As with any surgery, reducing the size of the breast can lead to scarring. However, the size of the wound depends on the types of techniques used.

When applying for a surgeon resume, be sure to ask about the different techniques to find out the differences. This will help you to know what to expect after the operation.

How to care for wounds after surgery and minimize their apparent impact?

You should follow your surgeon’s instructions for postoperative care long before surgical incisions to reduce the size of the breast become sores.

Make sure you hold your breast bandage and surgical bra for the first few days after surgery. After this period, you will probably see your surgeon to check the condition. He advises you on how to take care of your skin for faster healing.

Because there are techniques to minimize scarring, they may be considered during the healing process (but ask your surgeon first). Your doctor may recommend more than one method to help you recover.

Wound or scar massage

Scar massage is a technique involving gentle movements with the patient’s fingertips. In this method, you should gently massage the scar first vertically and then horizontally. You should also massage the scars in a circular motion. This method is thought to help increase collagen and flexibility while also reducing discomfort.

Some centers recommend starting to massage the scar about two weeks after surgery. Massage 10 minutes daily each time the massage is ideal. You can repeat this up to three times a day.

 

Silicone sheets or wound gels

Silicone sheets and wound gels are OTC solutions for scar healing. Silicone sheets are in the form of bandages that contain silicon. The logic behind them is to hydrate the wound area to help keep the skin supple. It may be helpful to use silicone sheets shortly after the operation because it can reduce pain, itching and other discomforts.

Wound gels such as Mederma may be used on new or old scars to help improve their appearance and reduce their size. Over time, the wounds may fade and even shrink in size. Your doctor may recommend that you use scar gel as soon as the incision heals. In order for wound gels to work well, they must be used every day to achieve the desired result. This may take several months.

Embrace dressing

This type of dressing is approved by the Food and Drug Administration of the United States of America and is applied immediately after the incisions are closed after surgery. This type of dressing is used to help pull the edges of the skin to speed up the healing process. Embrace dressings also contain silicone and may be used daily for up to a year.

A 2015 study looked at the effect of Embrace dressings on 36 patients who had recently had abdominal surgery. After 12 months, the researchers found a dramatic reduction in scarring in people who used this type of dressing. However, there are no similar studies on the effect of Embrace on mammoplasty surgery.

Fractional laser

Fractional laser may be a good choice long after a person’s wounds have healed, if the scar is very dark or thick. This treatment involves a microscopic laser that can treat large areas of skin simultaneously. It also targets both the upper (epidermis) and middle (dermis) layers of the skin and is used to remove deep scars. After treatment, the scar is temporarily tanned before it heals completely.

A person may need several laser sessions per month. According to DermNet New Zealand, it may take four to five sessions to achieve the desired effects. Fractional lasers may be used after surgical wounds have completely healed. This prevents possible side effects such as high blood pressure after inflammation.